Song Chaoyu’s eyes were dark as Song Xiuxiu reached out and took her hand. “When you get married, no matter what anyone else says, I’m definitely coming back to my maiden home to see you off! Don’t you get tired of me then!”
In the mirror, Song Xiuxiu already looked a bit like a bride. Song Chaoyu squeezed her hand. “Of course I won’t get tired of you! But Grandmother and my aunt both said they want to keep me by their side for a few more years! Otherwise, if you all leave the Song family, won’t it be empty?”
Song Xiuxiu smiled too.
But there was a touch of bitterness in that smile. “One always has to plan for their own future. It’s like that for me, and it’s like that for you, Fourth Sister. I know you have your own ideas, but you still need to see the path ahead clearly.”
Knowing that Song Xiuxiu meant well for her, Song Chaoyu nodded and smiled. “Alright, just focus on yourself! Today is your big day, let’s not talk about anything else!”
—
Song Xiuxiu’s wedding attire and accessories were prepared until close to dawn.
The maids and older women did not allow Song Xiuxiu to eat, citing a tradition.
But for the bride to go hungry all day was one thing, but now Song Xiuxiu was pregnant!
Song Chaoyu still brought a bowl of porridge and said to the obstructing Granny Zheng, “My cousin is in such a condition today, please let her have a few bites, otherwise she won’t be able to endure.”
Granny Zheng was someone from the First Madam’s side and was accustomed to being bossy. Even when facing Song Chaoyu, she would try to placate her. “Fourth Miss, what you’re saying is not that we aren’t letting her eat, it’s just that this is a rule left by our ancestors. What if eating it spoils the day?”
“Move aside!”
Song Chaoyu already disliked Granny Zheng. Now, thinking of Song Xiuxiu, she held up the food box in her hand and refused to budge. “What if I insist on letting my cousin eat this meal today?”
As they argued at the door, Song Xiuxiu inside could naturally hear them. She did not want Song Chaoyu to provoke the people of the Song family for her sake, so she called out to Song Chaoyu, “Fourth Sister, forget it! It’s fine if I don’t eat, hurry and come in.”
But some things, Song Chaoyu would not let go. She glanced back at the room and then said, “Cousin, don’t worry about anything. This matter today has nothing to do with you, I am determined to let you eat this meal.”
Song Xiuxiu rarely heard Song Chaoyu speak so seriously and earnestly, and was somewhat startled. Granny Zheng was also surprised, sizing up Song Chaoyu. “What’s going on today? Fourth Miss is usually the most amiable. Are you planning to throw a tantrum at this old woman today? This old woman doesn’t mind, but ruining the cousin’s good fortune might not be appropriate, right?”
Song Chaoyu sneered, “So Granny Zheng, you are insisting on ruining the cousin’s good fortune today, aren’t you?”
Granny Zheng frowned. When she was by the First Madam’s side, she often heard the First Madam and Song Yanjiao say that Song Chaoyu was not easy to deal with. She hadn’t believed it then. Now, seeing the look in Song Chaoyu’s eyes, Granny Zheng believed that she was indeed not as amiable as she appeared. But Granny Zheng had been by the First Madam’s side for a long time and was now a managing servant, accustomed to having her dignity in the Song mansion. She did not want to back down to Song Chaoyu. So she still stood in front of Song Chaoyu, refusing to yield. “If the First Madam or the Master told me that the rules left by the ancestors could be broken, then I would naturally say nothing. But if Fourth Miss is just telling me this, then I apologize, but I cannot obey.”
Song Chaoyu saw that Granny Zheng was determined to oppose her today. She stared coldly at Granny Zheng. “I am not trying to break the rules, but you all know my cousin’s condition today. If anything happens to her, how will we explain it to the Lin family? If you tell me that you can bear the responsibility, then I will immediately take this food box elsewhere.”
Granny Zheng naturally dared not say such a thing. But she still persisted, “If Miss insists on bringing this to Cousin, then go ask the Master and Madam! However, they are busy today, and if they are disturbed by such a trivial matter, I fear Fourth Miss would be seen as ignorant!”
For a servant woman in the mansion to speak to Song Chaoyu like this was indeed excessive. The surrounding maids and servants all looked over, but Granny Zheng was not afraid. Instead, she put her hands on her hips and stared at Song Chaoyu. If it were any other day, Song Chaoyu would not have sought this trouble. But now… Song Xiuxiu had a child in her womb, and to starve her for an entire day from now would surely not do.
Song Chaoyu refused to back down an inch. “So, do you think my words don’t count? In your eyes, the young ladies of this mansion no longer have their words respected, is that it?” If Song Chaoyu were alone, it would naturally be difficult to confront Granny Zheng. She intended to draw Song Yanjiao and the others into this.
Granny Zheng’s expression changed, realizing she couldn’t retort to Song Chaoyu’s words. But she still refused to move aside. “Then I don’t care. We are standing here now, and I simply cannot let Miss go in. Otherwise, on this auspicious day, Miss can just have me beaten!”
Was this trying to provoke her? Unfortunately, Song Chaoyu did not fall for it. She turned to the servants behind her. “Come here, tie up Granny Zheng!”
The servants looked at each other, not daring to step forward. Song Chaoyu’s eyes grew colder. “So now, this courtyard listens to a servant woman?”
The servants naturally dared not. Song Chaoyu continued, “Tie her up and send her to Father. If Father asks, just say it was my decision.”
The servants nodded and finally began to act. Granny Zheng had not yet opened her mouth when Song Chaoyu sternly said, “Muzzle her!”
The servants saw their Fourth Miss lose her temper like this for the first time and dared not be negligent. Although Granny Zheng usually had some authority, who didn’t know that Fourth Miss would be the only young lady in the mansion from now on? If they offended Fourth Miss, what consequences would they face? The servants dared not delay any longer. They stepped forward and bound Granny Zheng securely. Even as Granny Zheng struggled, it was to no avail.
Song Chaoyu surveyed the surroundings. “Does anyone else have any other thoughts?”
Everyone lowered their heads and shook them. Only then did Song Chaoyu, carrying the food box, enter the room and place it before Song Xiuxiu. “Cousin, eat.”
Song Xiuxiu sighed. “You don’t have to do this for me. I don’t really care how the Song family treats me.”
Song Chaoyu smiled. “Today is your big day, no sighing allowed! I’m not just doing this for you, I just feel that Granny Zheng is a servant who is overstepping her bounds.”